1.  If you have alternative ideas re: communicating from China with folks back home that are different than what I do and refer to in the FAQ document (i.e., I use Skype; perhaps you know prefer a calling card option), please share them with your classmates via your comment below.  How you contact folks back home is up to you.  My skype.com idea is just an suggestion.   Everybody has their own tech preferences.

 2.  Re: passports, we will do this … by the December 20 deadline you need to, along with your completed application (the link to print out that application is now up on the MBA web site!!) and your initial non-refundable payment, you MUST bring your passport into Cal Poly CE when you drop those materials off by that December 20 deadine.  This is a firm deadline — if you don’t make this deadline you won’t be going in the trip.  CE will then make a copy of your passport and return your original passport to you then and there.  Then, please hang on to your passport until I call for them Winter quarter (if you need it back after I call for them, e.g., for Spring break, we can work something out but do give me a heads up if that is the case).

3.  To clarify the blog issues and questions …. you need to create and make one central blog “post” re: a topic of your choice relating to China or the trip by the end of winter quarter.  For an example of a “post” where nobody commented (sometimes happens!!), click here, and re-read page 11 of the syllabus for how to proceed and who to email that draft post to (my student assistant will load your post on the central blog for us). 

Draft something interesting to you and that you think will elict feedback and a response from others - let’s intellectually engage each other, on-line, and in a way that lessens the need to meet and learn from each other in person!  Perhaps you read an interesting article, had an interesting talk with a classmate or professor re: China, saw an interesting feature on CNN about China, etc. 

In addition to the above, you must ALSO make at least three (3) responsive comments EACH quarter on the central blog to a post (or another comment) that has been placed there by me or another student (a “comment” is different than a “post”).  See page 11 of the syllabus for details.  For an example, see comment No. 1 by John Wu by clicking here.  The are plenty of exisiting posts on the central blog that you can read and comment on - it does not necessarily have to be a comment to a post made next month!

Finally, there are several things you need to watch and make a “comment” about it on the central blog.  For example, see page 17 of the syllabus that talks about watching “The Tank Man” feature.  This does NOT count as part of your three quarterly comments on the central blog noted above.

And for your own blog, that is designed for you to post assignments on.  What else you “post” there or “comment” on, is up to you.

4.  Per several people’s questions after today’s session, they are not hearing or listening to how WE (not you) will purchase either a round trip or one way ticket for you in connection with the trip.  You don’t go out, buy your own round trip ticket on the Internet, and then meet us in China.  Not permitted.  See and read, again, pages 36-37 of the FAQ document.  Please comply.